Someone has an axe to grind. Literally!Paige Murphy has settled into her new life as a writer and bookshop owner. Business booms when an infamous Hollywood director announces he’s hidden a treasure that could bring fame and fortune to whoever finds it . . . and his clues lead a bevy of actors and adventurers to Comfort Cove!But when the body of one of those actors is found on the beach, Paige’s … is found on the beach, Paige’s detective brother sets his sights on Paige’s hunky new assistant as the killer. Now, she must turn to her newly-formed coven and resident ghost to catch the real murderer without jeopardizing her brother’s new job.
Apples, Actors and Axes is Book 2 in the Beachside Books Magical Cozy Mystery Series.
If you like your cozy mysteries with a cast of quirky characters, a dash of magic, and a loyal but slightly dim-witted cat, you’ll love this light-hearted whodunit.
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Lovely real life characters, great storyline. Quick enjoyable read. Cannot wait for another book of this series
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
How humorous this was!
I look back on what I just finished reading and the word that comes to mind first is humorous. I love a good dose of humor in my cozies! I loved the magic. I loved the twists and turns. I loved the whole book!
“Apples, Actors and Axes” earns 5/5 Mystery Treasure…Entertaining and Clever!
A writer with a bookshop, a coven, and a ghost? Yes, please. Paige Murphy inherited Beachside Books, a Comfort Cove bookshop, from her aunt and hopes to make it a success. So needing some assistance shelving books and helping customers, she hires Jordan Rake, but after one day she feels it may not work out. He’s a young struggling actor with viral video fame who thought Beachside Books was a “booking” agency. Ok, weren’t the books a clue? Despite the curious misunderstanding, Jordan still wants the job. But, a dead body is found, Jordan is the prime suspect, and the town is overrun by treasure seekers. Oh, the delights of a cozy mystery! Lester/Thomas, or Thomas/Lester, penned a clever murder mystery with just the right amount of witches, magic, and a swashbuckler ghost. Using a third-person narrative, not my favorite perspective to be an observer, but it was done well with vivid descriptions, wonderful characters, dialogue that illustrated the various personalities and story tone, and some the occasional giggle. I enjoyed the family dynamic within the coven and the ghost is nice comic relief. Selfishly, I’d have enjoyed a treat…what recipe would Captain McDougall suggest? This is book two, and newbies can start here without difficulty, but like me, you’ll be eager to read book one, “Pasta, Pirates and Poison.”
I loved this book and I am going to go back and read the first book to see all the hijinks from the beginning.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
She is happy running her bookshop when a director starts a treasure hunt. Many people come to her town but one turns up dead. Now she needs to find who did it. Ahh I did it? Why did they do it? See if she will find out
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I absolutely love this series. I’m happy that the ladies have a Coven. They work really well together. Marco is the best and I hope that Paige gives him a chance. Can’t wait for the next book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Apples, Actors and Axes
Beachside Books Magical Cozy Mystery Book 2
Paula Lester
I just love Casper. He makes the books. This one was so much fun. The characters are all so lively, and have such great personalities. The dialogue is fun and makes you laugh. I can’t wait to see what happens next. The twists make you want to turn the pages. I love the books. I can’t wait for the next one.
I do not know how I missed the first book but you can bet I will read that one as well. This is a delightful, absolutely fun and enjoyable read. I enjoyed every word. The characters are so much fun and the story/plot has enough twists to keep me guessing. This is a winning series! Can’t wait to catch up to the next book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
If you liked the first quirky book in Paula Lester’s delightful series, named Beachside Books Magical Cozy Mysteries, you would enjoy this second installment. Paige is running the bookstore, and she has a hunky new employee, Jordan Rake. (Awesome name!) He mistakenly thought that her business was a booking agency, not a bookstore, as he is somewhat of an Internet sensation and small-time actor. He does continue to work there anyway and draws a lot of attention to her little bookstore. Paige and some of her family and friends with small magical abilities reconvene the local coven that used to be run by her aunt. Soon, Comfort Cove is overrun by celebrities and wannabes who are in search of something hidden by a movie director. The person who finds it will not only get $25,000 but also a role in his upcoming movie. Marco from the previous book is in town renovating Aunt Nora’s house as well as cooking at an Italian restaurant in town. Things heat up when one of the actors who came to town in search of the item gets murdered. What’s up with the internet hunk? What’s up with the creepy girl who likes him? Who will find the treasurer? Who killed the actor? Did the director even stow this find in little Comfort Cove?
I found this book to be as delightful as the first. Paige is a fun heroine for a mystery, and the rest of the cast of zany characters make this book just a simply entertaining read. You don’t need to have read the first book of the series to understand this one, but it is a good read as well.
I received a free advance copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I really enjoyed this book. This is book two in the series and the first book I discovered. So glad I did it was a nice easy fun read with a subtle hint of witch craft added in and it didn’t matter that I hadn’t read the first book but that will be put right very soon.
The story follows Pagie as she trys to keep running the book shop she inherited from an Aunt but with mounting plumbing problem she might have to fire the new assistant she hired to help run the shop. This is leads to it own problems as the assistant is none other than movie heartthrob puppy saving hero Jordan Rake, who is turning out to be great for business. Things get even trickery for Pagie when treasure hunts turn up on mass to the little beachside town and when Jordan is suspected of murder she has no choice but to use her witchy powers and help solve the murder. With so much going on it was a fun read and I loved the characters.
This is the second book in the Beachside Books Magical Cozy Mystery series and every bit as good as the first. Paige is settling in after deciding to make a go of Aunt Nora’s bookshop. She’d hired another helper, Jordan Rake, after the first one was arrested, little knowing he is a an actor and celebrity. Then a horde of people descend on Comfort Cove looking for hidden treasure and Jordan becomes embroiled in a murder.
There is more magic in this book, Paige and Lucy formed a coven and we find out Paige’s sister-in-law Sarah has a little magic of her own. The story is interesting and the pacing good. Paige is level headed and practical, not one to scare easily, and she has to know if very-good-for-business Jake is guilty or innocent. It’s a solid good read and I’m looking forward to the next one.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
Paige has hired a new employee (Jordan Rake) who just so happens to be a budding actor/model. This hunky guy has drawn in lots of customers to the bookstore, which really is helping Paige’s pocketbook. When droves of actors and treasure hunters start showing up in Comfort Cove, Paige soon discovers that a treasure has been buried and the finder gets a coveted role in a slasher movie and a $25,000 cash prize. Not long after, an actor is found murdered on the beach just outside the Beachside Bookstore and Jordan becomes the prime suspect. Can Paige find the real murderer before her brother Scott arrests an innocent man?
This is the second book in the new Beachside Books Magical Cozy Mystery series. It is filled with a cast of quirky and memorable characters, lots of mystery and adventure, has touches of magic, and is the perfect little whodunit for cozy fans.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The town is star struck and totally treasure hunting crazy! Paige hires a very cute guy to help her in her book store only to find out that he’s a famous actor. Then a bunch of famous people descend on the small town hunting for a treasure and staring role in a slasher movie that a director hid. One thing leads to another, a famous actor is murdered, and Paige’s new employee is top on the suspect list. This was a really fun book and I plan on following this series. I suggest if you like cozy mysteries with a little bit of magic thrown in, that you read the series too!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
RATS. Rats. Rats.
Okay, you got me not once but three times. Thought I had it figured out and realized the first suspect was not it. The second was just an notion at the time but was dismissed. My third was wrong because I had the identifier on the wrong person. Nice job.
This is my fist in this series and it is book two. I can honestly say the book does stand alone very well. In other words, you can read it and not be lost. There are a few references to book one but you and I can go back and read it to catch up.
This is my honest and freely given review. I did receive an ARC copy.
Now that Paige is settling in at the bookstore she inherited from her aunt, she is faced with the usual burdens of an aging building.
The plumbing bill is more than a mild hit to her bank account.
a very attractive young man comes in to ask for a job when she posts for a part time assistant. he turns out to be a boon for her bottom line. but is he good for the long term?
and what about mysterious Marco, who seemed to trail after her from Italy? does she still have dark feelings about him, or will he finally get the date he is seeking?
Murder and celebrities follow a faux treasure hunt to the Cove – and not everyone will survive it.
Caspar the cat is an ongoing help – and brother Scott, now a detective, will continue to get help from the local Coven, including his wife and sister, whether he wants it or not.
Charming adventure with lots of actions and bits of twisted but clean romance.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The story is fast paced, well written and full of interesting characters. How refreshing to read a cozy mystery where the police aren’t bumbling around and charging the first person they suspect with the crime. Apples, Actors and Axes is book two in this series. If you haven’t read the first book, don’t let that stop you from picking up a copy, it is very easy to get to know the characters. I am looking forward to reading more books in this series.